All Things Must Pass

Although best known as the title track of his 1970 solo triple album, George Harrison taped a solo demo of All Things Must Pass in early 1969.

The recording took place on 25 February 1969, Harrison's 26th birthday. During the session he also taped demos of Old Brown Shoe and Something, all of which were released on Anthology 3 in 1996.

Harrison wanted all three to become Beatles songs, although Old Brown Shoe and Something went on to be recorded by the group. All Things Must Pass had also previously been put forward frequently during the Get Back sessions in January 1969; that it wasn't recorded properly by The Beatles suggests that either the other members didn't like the song, or that Harrison decided that they didn't deserve it.

All Things Must Pass was the simplest of the 25 February demo recordings. Harrison recorded two takes, then added extra guitar onto the second.

The lyrics were based on a translation of part of chapter 23 of the Tao Te Ching. A translation was included in Timothy Leary's 1966 book Psychedelic Prayers After The Tao Te Ching, under the heading All Things Pass:

All things pass
A sunrise does not last all morning
All things pass
A cloudburst does not last all day

Psychedelic Prayers After The Tao Te Ching

Another Harrison song, Isn't It A Pity, was demoed by Harrison on 26 January 1969 with the working title George's Demo. The Beatles never recorded the song - it also emerged as a highlight on the All Things Must Pass album - although Ian MacDonald and Mark Lewisohn have suggested that Harrison also put forward the song during the Revolver sessions.

This is one of the songs, that i wished that we’re either recorded and put on Get Back or Abbey Road.
But, it came in a solo album.
Damn it, why The Beatles never recorded it.
Only that somebody want do a version trying to imitate the vocals of John, Paul and drumming or backing vocal of Ringo too.
But that’s just a dream.

It further vindicated GEORGE as a viable player in the songwriting duties of the group, and strengthened is need to get out, grow, flourish!
I’m glad the Beatles rejected it, or George didn’t let them have it!! What would his monumental solo album have become?!!!
All Things MUST Pass, Away!!!!

The Beatles did record this, but it was during the early rehearsals for GET BACK — i.e., the Twickenham sessions, after which they relocated to Apple to lay down a proper album. So the tapes I’ve heard are of mediocre fidelity, and the band’s haphazard attempts to conjure George’s paean to eternal cycles is marred by fumbling attempts to develop coherent parts on organ and bass by John & Paul, respectively, who fall flat as they repeatedly botch the anticipatory timing on the chorus and miss the bridge altogether — no offense to any of them; they were going through a tough time, as was much of the world that winter.

A version of this song exists with George, Paul & John’s chorus vocals and Ringo’s explosive drum fills artificially grafted onto George’s signature solo version, creating an “Imagine”d version that features an augmented Beatles ensemble.

The bit about the Leary prayer book is news to me, and I find it of particular interest given that George had previously harvested a kernel of inspiration for his song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” from reading the I Ching, and that a couple years earlier John had derived “Tomorrow Never Knows” from the introduction to Leary’s interpretation of the Tibetan Book of the Dead called “The Psychedelic Experience”.

Both ATMP and “Pity” were Harrison songs that stood up to anything Paul or John offered the Beatles in the later years. It is almost shameful that these songs were not judged on their merits (which would have justified their proper recording/release by the group) and instead were basically discarded due to internal conflicts, space limitations and because George wrote them. Neither John or Paul would concede songs to accomodate George’s growing number of superb songs. Abbey Road should have included Something, Here Comes the Sun, All Things Must Pass and possibly Isn’t It A Pity. It was a pity that the Beatles showed such disrespect to such fine songs. Thankfully, George got them released on his fantastic solo debut release.

If the LP’s time-limitations required cutting songs to accomodate Isn’t It A Pity and All Things Must Pass, then I would nominate Maxwell’s Silver Hammer and Sun King. There is nothing wrong with either song (though Sun King is far better), but IMO, the 2 Harrisongs I mentioned are better. It was clear that George wanted both songs – particularly ATMP – to be Beatles’ songs. Any song recorded by the group was money in the bank. Had those songs been properly recorded by the full band, they could have been placed on LPs or on singles and, like the rest of their output, would likely have been well-received and profitable. I guess it’s all a matter of personal preference, and who am I to second-guess the Beatles or George Martin. But we all have opinions – and these are mine.

Well, if you get rid of those songs and assume that neither Harrisong would have been on the B-side, unless you’d put one of the two in between You Never Give…and the medley, that would mean there would be 3 or 4 Harrisongs on the A side, 2 Lennons, 1 McCartney and 1 of Ringo’s. You just have to be realistic here, Paul would have the same number of songs on the A side as Ringo, I mean come on. The album worked out fine and the ATMP album was a better one with the inclusion of those two songs.

I’ve seen some who say “All things must pass” was from the Bible, but that doesnt’ really make sense. In Matthew, Jesus says,”…these things must COME to pass” which is a different meaning. All things must pass is talking not of things coming but of things going away.

You would REPLACE the epic, heavy, doom-laden masterpiece that is I Want You(she’s so heavy) w Isn’t It A Pity? That truly would be a pity. I think a strong argument could be made that “I Want You” represented John’s last great attempt at a “symphony to god” to paraphrase Brian Wilson. Never again in his life did he write and record a song with this kind of grandeur and ambition, where he was really aiming at creating something of grand, timeless art. You could say ‘Because’ but that’s same album so hard to say. Isn’t It A Pity isn’t even as good as “I Need You”, which I actually quite like. Def not worthy next to the stuff John and Paul were putting out at the time(although I’ll give you Maxwell and ick, Octopus’ Garden). Frankly I’m surprised Old Brown Shoe made the cut.

Hey Larry Yates…
Don’t know if it’s from the bible or not but the line (without the word `must’) is in this prayer from St. Theresa of Avila:
“Let nothing disturb you;
Let nothing frighten you,
All things pass away. God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
He who has God,finds he lacks nothing.
God alone suffices.” Buy the way, I love the snippet of this on LIB Naked. The Beatles would have done a beautiful version.

Seems like I read somewhere that George Harrison gave up on attempting to get the other Beatles to take this song seriously after John returned from the using the toilet facilities at the recording studio. John apparently stating, “All things must pass” upon his return…..which pissed off George and he never pushed the song again.

This song should have been in “Let it Be”, not “Abbey Road”, I think. Changing ATMP for “Dig it” would be a great choice. This song is too good to be on the medley. Probably this song is better than most song of the A side, but I prefer any Abbey Road song (even Maxwell, which in fact I love) instead of Dig It.

“The lyrics were based on a translation of part of chapter 23 of the Tao Te Ching.”
This is the English translation of chapter 23 Timothy Learys words could only be said to have been a reflection of that idea and not a translation.

*23. Words
Nature says only a few words:
High wind does not last long,
Nor does heavy rain.
If nature’s words do not last
Why should those of man?

Who accepts harmony, becomes harmonious.
Who accepts loss, becomes lost.
For who accepts harmony, the Way harmonizes with him,
And who accepts loss, the Way cannot find.*

This is a powerful George Harrison composition. “All Things Must Pass”, “Isn’t It A Pity” etc would have made The Beatles last couple of albums stronger. I agree with what others are saying, but the plus side is that the”All Things Must Pass” album became the masterpiece that it is because of these and other great songs inclusions.It was turned to George’s advantage as he was up against it with the power structure the way it was in the band. As someone else said, “Not Guilty” another great track not included.This was not released until 1979’s “George Harrison” album. “All Things Must Pass” and “Beware of Darkness” are two of my favorite George Harrison songs.

I think it’s rather fortunate that the Beatles turned it down, even though I can’t fathom why. This way, we get a great Harrisong (and a nice title for a great album) instead of some odd B-side or something that no one hears. They might have come to their senses and made it a single, but then again, they might not. And considering their past propensity for not really bothering with George’s songs, it’s possible that they wouldn’t really have bothered with ATMP. Which is why I’d rather have a wonderful solo ATMP than a poorly recorded Beatles ATMP.

I think it’s pointless discussing which songs should have been left off any Beatles album, they are as they were meant to be and all 3 Beatles solo efforts benefited from the Beatles not using their songs, especially George. As much as i love George’s songs the reality is the band was built primary around Lennon / McCartney songs with George not significantly contributing until their 5th and 6th albums, by which time the Beatles had made it and were still on the way up, therefore it became habbit mixed with ego that kept George to around 2 songs per album, and as good as George became, he really only got there after Lennon / McCartney paved the way, by the time George was blossoming Lennon was damaged goods, and like McCartney and his ego or not, he more or less dragged them into the studio, had his finger on London’s pulse, and wrote the vast majority of the big A side singles which helped the Beatles stay on top of the world so to speak…i can’t imagine Abbey Road without I Want You, I have converted many people to the the Beatles with this song…Maxwell…i loved it as a young teenager, now at 45 I’m not add into it but admire it for its sound and example of how diverse the Beatles were & how the Beatles sounded different when Lennon didn’t contribute to recording sessions.

In pace and mood, and maybe even its chord structure, ‘All Things Must Pass’ sounds quite similar to ‘Let It Be’. The actual tunes and sentiments are quite different of course. I really enjoy both songs.

Great song and a great album by George. Probably a perfect insight into George’s handling of his own eventual death. Supposedly Ringo or Paul came to visit George expressing their sympathy and George told his former bandmate that it was okay, it’s (his body) only a shell. Hope I can be half as brave before I leave this existence.

Disagree that GH’s album “All Things Must Pass” is filled with filler. I think it’s the best solo album that any Beatle ever released, and a lot of Beatles fans feel the same. I would’ve placed this song and Pity on Let It Be. I actually think both tracks are better than I Me Mine and For You Blue. Same thing with Old Brown Shoe, which for me is the most underrated Beatles track ever.

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